- Success Criterion 1.3.1
- Conformance level A
Radio or Checkbox Group With No Grouping Question Announced
1.3.1 — Info and Relationships
Scenario
Setting
A social media platform's settings menu
What’s wrong
Radio/checkbox groups without fieldset/legend (code grouping fields under one question) or role="group" (code grouping related controls)+name, where the group prompt is visual only.
Example
During an audit of a social media platform's settings menu: radio/checkbox groups without fieldset/legend (code grouping fields under one question) or role="group" (code grouping related controls)+name, where the group prompt is visual only.
Why it matters
Screen-reader, braille, and reading-tool users who depend on coded structure rather than visual layout. The practical effect on a social media platform's settings menu: they can't tell how the page is organized.
How to test
Tab through a radio/checkbox set: a screen reader should announce the group's question once, then each option — if there's no fieldset/legend, the group prompt is never announced.
How to fix
Wrap the group in fieldset/legend (code grouping fields under one question) (or role="group" (code grouping related controls) with an accessible name) so the group prompt is announced with each option.
Outcome
That one change on a social media platform's settings menu means they understand how the page is organized.
Who is affected
Screen-reader, braille, and reading-tool users who depend on coded structure rather than visual layout.
Learn more
- Understanding Understanding document (opens in a new tab)
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